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In accordance with Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, an inspector's investigation is in progress to determine the circumstances and causes relating to the accident involving an Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA helicopter (registration mark B-HJV) operated by Heliservices (Hong Kong) Limited in Kau Lung Hang Lo Wai, Fanling on January 3, 2011.
The investigation is being conducted by a team of investigators from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD). The Bureau d'Enquˆ§tes et d'Analyses pour la Sˆmcuritˆm de l'Aviation Civile (BEA) of France (the French aircraft accident investigation bureau) which represents the State of Design and State of Manufacture of the helicopter involved has also appointed an accredited representative to assist in the investigation.
The investigation team today (February 1) released a preliminary report on the accident.
A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) said that the preliminary report contains facts relating to the accident as determined up to the time of issue and must be regarded as tentative.
"The investigation team will continue to collect and study all relevant information in order to determine the circumstances and causes relating to the accident. More in-depth investigation and analysis work will be done to further examine the relationship between the location and physical characteristics of the work site, the overhead high voltage electricity lines nearby and the helicopter's underslung operation and its management," the spokesperson said.
"The preliminary report is published at this stage for general information," the spokesperson added.
The full preliminary report is attached in the annex. It is also available for download at the CAD webpage (www.cad.gov.hk/english/reports.html).
Ends/Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:01
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